IRWIN 'FLETCH' FLETCHER: "Well, we're in a gray area."

FRANK WALKER: "How gray?"

FLETCH: "Charcoal."

OK, as far as cinematic renditions of my current profession, "Fletch" isn't exactly "All The President's Men". But it does include novelty teeth, a nun's habit and the above-referenced quote that I think sums up the clarity of the current status of the Brandon Marshall-Seattle-Denver triangle.

On Friday, news of Seattle's pursuit of Marshall was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter. The term "offer sheet" was used, the implication being that Seattle was so interested in Marshall it would considering signing him to an offer sheet, knowing they would give up the No. 6 overall pick as compensation should.

By the time Marshall arrived on Saturday, the situation was no longer as urgent. This was a get-to-know-you session. More an exploratory conversation with no deal considered imminent.

On Sunday, there is this report from Michael Lombardi of The National Football Post, stating definitively that Denver isn't going to negotiate for lesser compensation. Signing Marshall to an offer sheet is the only route Seattle can acquire the wide receiver.

"I do know this: The Denver Broncos won't negotiate a trade for Marshall. Either a team is prepared to pay a first-rounder or move along. Denver will not take calls on Marshall; it's either an offer sheet or he plays in Denver next season."
   -- Michael Lombardi, The National Football Post

Not only that, but Lombardi said he expects another team to get in the mix. Now, Lombardi has history in Denver, hired to be a personnel assistant in 2007. Stands to reason that he's got a pretty good line into the Broncos' approach here.

But that approach might be a firm negotiating stance, sending a message to those teams interested in Marshall that he won't come cheaply, and a message to Marshall that this deal will be more than simply a matter of the receiver choosing where he wants to play next year.

A person more cynical than myself, more jaded, skeptical even perhaps, would call it posturing. Instead, I'll just say it's all in the game of free-agent negotiations. It's like a brushback pitch that warns against thinking that a couple later-round choices are going to get this deal done.

When free agency began, I expected Seattle's interest in Marshall -- if there was any -- to slowly simmer as long as the market for unrestricted free agents was at a rolling boil. Instead, the Seahawks interest bubbled to the surface on Friday, resulting in Marshall's visit.

How quickly things proceed from here is unclear. The signing period for restricted free agents runs until April 15.

Update, approximately 3:30 p.m.: The Bengals discussed the possibility of adding Marshall, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. "Bengals have contemplated pursuing Marshall," Schefter reported on via his Twitter account. "How serious the Bengals will be still is a matter of discussion within the organization."

Update to the update: Not so fast on those Bengals' rumors. Joe Reedy, who covers the Bengals for the Cincinnati Enquirer, posted this on Twitter account: "The rumors on Marshall to the (Bengals) are mostly a smoke screen. Meant to drive up the price with Seattle."

So after all that conflicting information, I think it's safe to say we're still in a gray area when it comes to Marshall's future. Charcoal gray.

• Defensive end Aaron Kampman agreed to sign with Jacksonville late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. Here's the report from the Florida Times-Union. Kampman is 30 years old, recovering from knee surgery and expected to be ready by the time training camp begins. Seattle was mentioned as a potential suitor for Kampman, but that was mostly people drawing conclusions based on his shared history with new general manager John Schneider in Green Bay. There was no indication Seattle seriously pursued Kampman with a big-budget deal.